About Bainbridge Island

BainbridgeIsland.com is the essential local guide for everything Bainbridge Island. Covering more than 15,000 business listings, parks, trails, events and more, we combine in-the-know editorial, candid user comments and expert advice to keep you connected to the most popular and undiscovered places on Bainbridge Island.

Going around Bainbridge Island, Washington in the Kitstap Peninsula takes you to its abundant natural wonders. At only five miles wide and ten miles long, Bainbridge Island is full of fun things to do, experience and learn about.

Bainbridge Island: One of the Best Places to Live in the U.S.

According to their website, “MONEY magazine and CNN/Money spent months looking for Great American Towns — where you would want to raise your children and celebrate life’s milestones. Starting with more than 1,300 cities, we settled on 10 winners.” And they selected Bainbridge Island, WA, as the #2 best place to live in the United States in 2005. Bainbridge Island is “a small town with good schools, rational home prices, nice views and easy access to big-city amenities.”

Access to All The Big City Amenities, But With Charm

Bainbridge Island, WA, possesses all the benefits of a big city but remains a small, quaint seaside village. Bainbridge Island offers rural living, an artistic community and some of the finest schools in Washington state. It also boasts wonderful parks, two golf courses, a tennis club, two supermarkets, two movie theaters, and access to the entire Olympic Peninsula via a short drive over the Agate Pass bridge.

Bainbridge Island History

Bainbridge Island was named after Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the USS Constitution in the war of 1812. Formerly a logging camp for its cedar trees for ship masts in the 19th century, Bainbridge Island can be reached via a 35-minute scenic ferry ride from Seattle. Visitors who want to discover the wonders about Bainbridge Island will find it one of the best places in the Puget Sound basin. The active participation of its citizens and their environmental conservation efforts has preserved the island’s pristine natural beauty since it was founded in 1871.

Bainbridge Island Attractions

Visitors might grab breakfast at the Bainbridge Island Farmers’ Market before taking their first steps around the island. Breads, artisan pasta, barbecue, sandwiches, and omelets are offered by numerous shops, stalls, and coffee shops. They may also try the ice creams sold at Viking Feast Items for a taste of the local flavors available on the island which are made from the freshest locally produced ingredients.

One of the greatest attractions that will give visitors an almost overall description about Bainbridge Island is the 150-acre Bloedel Reserve. It features a stunning view of its landscapes reflecting the Japanese influence on the island with the serene and peaceful quality of Zen and Japanese-inspired gardens. Visitors will be welcomed by a French chateau-style mansion before they delve deep into the thick forest of conifer, pine, Japanese maple trees, and lichen-covered fallen trees. The Reserve encapsulates abundant wildlife. Deer, wild ducks, geese, frogs, beavers, and migratory birds can be found all around the woods and swampy lakes. The Boedel Reserve also features a European-inspired garden that includes an immaculately designed lawn with lakes and willow trees.

The island features a hilly geography which was made popular by its Chilly Hilly bicycle ride. However, visitors may enjoy the peaceful and tranquil view around the stretch of its 53-mile shoreline. To the north east of the Island, there lies the breathtaking panoramic view of Puget Sound, Jefferson and Cascade Mountains.

Take a stop at Brainbridge Island Historical Museum to discover more about Bainbridge Island and its history with its latest exhibit called “An Island Story.” The museum brings the visitors to the past with its interactive tours, collections, and other exhibits that tell how the island become to what it is now today.

Bainbridge Island Demographics

According to Census of 2010, Bainbridge Island has 23,380 residents. The citizens are very concerned about Baindridge Island and how they are committed in preserving the island’s natural beauty and providing better services for its visitors.

Bainbridge Island operates under a council/manager form of government wherein seven elected council members will elect the city manager who will oversee the whole operation in the island. The council members, together with its citizens, work hand-in-hand in making necessary revisions in their island policies and services, so they can provide each visitor a worthwhile stay on the island and to maintain the pristine beauty of the island as well. According to Money magazine in 2005, Bainbridge Island is the second best place to live in the United States.

Aside from its warm-welcoming citizens and awe-inspiring natural attractions, there are still more to discover about Bainbridge Island. The Island is an ideal summer vacation mecca for the whole family. It is also a great place to spend a romantic getaway with your love ones and enjoy the breathtaking experience in one of the most beautiful areas in Washington.